Jamtara: The rural youth of Jamtara have finally got the right direction in life. Once infamous as the ‘phishing capital' of India, Jamtara is now on the road to reforms. All thanks to Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aquil Ahmed Mumtaz. The young 2014 batch IAS officer is establishing community libraries in every village of the district in order to divert youth into studies.

The first community library of Jamtara was opened on November 13, 2020 and since then there has been no looking back. Motivated by the acceptance and success of the model, Faiz has established community libraries in all 118 panchayats across six blocks. The best part is that these libraries are created using abandoned government buildings of the different panchayats. Indeed the best example of ‘recycling’ ! 

“The community libraries are provided with basic books of engineering, medical, banking, and other competitive exams. It is essentially beneficial for the girl students of the district who had no other choice than to give up their dreams of attempting competitive exams due to lack of facilities in the panchayats,” says Faiz.

The furniture and books in the libraries are managed by CSR funds, crowd funding, and donations. These libraries are not only the source of studies but recreation also. Students spend a wholesome time here while playing indoor games, through counseling sessions and motivational talks as well.

Faiz believes that education is instrumental in the development of any community and his initiative can bring a positive change. The educated and self-driven youth will help in removing the tag of ‘hub of cybercrime’ from Jamtara.

"Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a great social reformer and educationist of the 19th century, spent the last two decades of his life in Jamtara, awakening the light of education. I hope that this innovative campaign of libraries will bring back the old identity of Jamtara," he said. /BI/